Features

Average Fuel Economy for New Cars Sold Sets Record for 3rd Consecutive Month, According to TrueCar’s TrueMPG™

April 11, 2013

Midsize Car Fuel Economy Posts Year-Over-Year Increase of 1.4 MPG

TrueCar, the automotive pricing information and analysis company that provides new car pricing trends and forecasting, today announced fuel economy numbers from March light vehicle auto sales indicate TrueMPGTM increased to 23.7 mpg, the third consecutive month fuel economy records have been achieved by the industry.

“The industry reached yet another record-high TrueMPG average in March, thanks not only to continued consumer preference for smaller vehicles but also due to significantly improved fuel efficiency of larger vehicles, especially large trucks,” said Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for TrueCar. “The highly competitive mid-size sedan segment experienced the biggest gain since last year, with Nissan and Chrysler posting the largest improvements among automakers.”

Below is how the top eight manufacturers fared comparing overall MPG, broken out by car and truck MPG:

Average MPG

Average Car MPG

Average Truck MPG

Manufacturer

13-Mar

12-Mar

YoY

13-Mar

12-Mar

YoY

13-Mar

12-Mar

YoY

Chrysler

21

19.9

1.2

24

22.8

1.2

19.5

18.3

1.2

Ford

23.1

22.4

0.7

29.1

26.8

2.3

20.1

19.7

0.4

GM

21.4

21.6

-0.2

25.3

25.4

-0.1

19.1

19

0.1

Honda

25.9

25.4

0.6

29.7

28.6

1.1

22.6

22.8

-0.3

Hyundai/Kia

27.3

27.4

-0.1

28.9

29

-0.1

22.8

23.4

-0.6

Nissan

25.3

23.9

1.4

29.7

26.4

3.2

20.6

20.4

0.2

Toyota

24.9

25.4

-0.5

30.1

30.8

-0.8

19.6

19.5

0.1

Volkswagen

26

26.1

-0.2

26.8

27.1

-0.3

22.3

21.9

0.4

Industry

23.7

23.4

0.3

27.7

27

0.7

20.2

19.8

0.4

According to TrueCar.com, the TrueMPGTM for vehicles sold by U.S. manufacturers averaged 21.8 MPG in March 2013, up from 21.3 MPG in March 2012. European manufacturers increased their average fuel economy for vehicles sold from 23.0 MPG to 23.4 MPG; Japanese manufacturers increased their average fuel economy from 25.0 MPG last year to 25.4 MPG; and South Korean manufacturers’ average fuel economy decreased from 27.4 MPG in March 2012 to 27.3 last month.

Below is a snapshot of a few vehicle segments and how they compare from March 2013 versus March 2012:

Average Small Car MPG

Average Midsize Car MPG

Average Large Truck MPG

Manufacturer

13-Mar

12-Mar

YoY

13-Mar

12-Mar

YoY

13-Mar

12-Mar

YoY

Chrysler

31.3

25

6.4

24

24

-0.1

18.6

15.8

2.7

Ford

33.2

32.2

1

30.3

26.9

3.4

17.5

17.5

0

GM

29.1

30.9

-1.8

26.2

26.1

0.1

17.1

17.1

0

Honda

32.1

32.3

-0.3

29

26.1

2.9

17.2

17.2

0

Hyundai/Kia

31.3

30.9

0.5

27.6

27.9

-0.2

N/A

N/A

N/A

Mazda

29.6

29.2

0.4

27.6

25.1

2.6

N/A

N/A

N/A

Mitsubishi

25.4

25.3

0.1

24.3

24.3

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

Nissan

34.4

30.7

3.8

28.6

25.3

3.3

14.3

14.4

-0.1

Subaru

27.1

28.5

-1.3

25.8

24.3

1.5

N/A

N/A

N/A

Suzuki

N/A

N/A

N/A

25

25.1

-0.1

N/A

N/A

N/A

Toyota

34.4

35.7

-1.3

28.4

28.5

-0.1

15

15.3

-0.3

Volkswagen

29.1

29.6

-0.4

28.3

27.5

0.8

N/A

N/A

N/A

Industry

31.8

31.8

0

27.7

26.3

1.4

17.3

16.8

0.5

TrueCar also compared TrueMPG by Brand, as well as by Manufacturer and Segment:

TrueMPG by Brand

Brand

Mar-13

Feb-13

Mar-12

YoY

MoM

smart

35.7

35.7

35.7

0.0

0.0

Fiat

33.1

33.1

32.1

1.0

-0.1

MINI

29.8

29.7

30.1

-0.3

0.0

Hyundai

28.1

27.7

28.3

-0.2

0.4

Volkswagen

27.5

27.3

27.5

0.0

0.3

Honda

26.5

26.4

25.9

0.6

0.0

Kia

26.4

26.7

26.5

-0.1

-0.3

Scion

26.3

26.2

27.5

-1.2

0.1

Mazda

26.0

26.8

26.3

-0.3

-0.8

Nissan

25.9

26.2

24.3

1.7

-0.3

Mitsubishi

25.8

26.5

24.9

0.9

-0.6

Subaru

25.8

25.5

25.1

0.7

0.3

Toyota

25.1

25.0

25.7

-0.6

0.1

Suzuki

23.9

23.8

24.0

-0.1

0.1

Ford

23.1

23.3

22.5

0.6

-0.2

Lexus

23.0

23.2

22.5

0.6

-0.2

Buick

22.9

22.8

23.3

-0.3

0.1

BMW

22.5

22.0

21.8

0.6

0.4

Audi

22.3

22.4

22.6

-0.3

-0.1

Acura

22.1

22.1

21.2

1.0

0.0

Chrysler

22.0

22.0

21.8

0.3

0.0

Volvo

22.0

22.1

22.0

0.0

-0.1

Chevrolet

22.0

21.6

22.2

-0.2

0.3

Lincoln

22.0

20.5

20.8

1.2

1.5

Dodge

22.0

21.9

20.7

1.3

0.0

Mercedes-Benz

21.2

20.8

20.4

0.8

0.4

Porsche

21.0

20.9

19.6

1.4

0.1

Jeep

20.0

19.9

19.4

0.6

0.1

Cadillac

20.0

20.1

19.0

1.0

-0.2

Infiniti

19.9

19.9

20.0

0.0

0.1

Jaguar

19.2

19.8

18.1

1.1

-0.6

GMC

19.0

19.2

19.1

-0.1

-0.2

Ram

18.6

15.8

15.8

2.7

2.7

Land Rover

16.0

15.9

15.4

0.6

0.1

Industry

23.7

23.5

23.4

0.3

0.2

TrueMPG by Manufacturer and Segment

Large Car

Large SUV

Large Truck

Luxury Car

Luxury Sport Car

Luxury SUV

Midsize Car

BMW

N/A

N/A

N/A

23.9

20.5

21.7

N/A

Chrysler

21.5

18.1

18.6

N/A

N/A

N/A

24.0

Daimler

N/A

N/A

N/A

23.1

20.6

19.0

N/A

Ford

23.1

15.6

17.5

26.2

N/A

19.1

30.3

GM

22.4

18.0

17.1

21.8

19.2

17.9

26.2

Honda

N/A

N/A

17.2

24.8

N/A

20.1

29.0

Hyundai/Kia

N/A

N/A

N/A

20.9

N/A

N/A

27.6

Land Rover/Jaguar

N/A

N/A

N/A

19.3

18.0

16.0

N/A

Mazda

N/A

18.4

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

27.6

Mitsubishi

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

24.3

Nissan

N/A

14.8

14.3

21.2

21.1

18.6

28.6

Porsche

N/A

N/A

N/A

20.3

23.0

19.4

N/A

Subaru

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

25.8

Suzuki

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

25.0

Toyota

24.5

14.8

15.0

25.5

21.0

20.4

28.4

Volkswagen

N/A

N/A

N/A

23.4

21.8

21.5

28.3

Volvo

N/A

N/A

N/A

22.1

24.0

20.5

N/A

Industry

22.5

17.7

17.3

23.6

21.3

19.6

27.7

TrueMPG by Manufacturer and Segment

Midsize SUV

Minivan

Small Car

Small SUV

Small Truck

Sport Car

Subcompact Car

BMW

N/A

N/A

N/A

28.3

N/A

30.4

N/A

Chrysler

19.0

19.9

31.3

23.5

N/A

19.9

33.1

Daimler

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

35.7

Ford

21.8

N/A

33.2

25.6

N/A

21.8

33.1

GM

23.8

N/A

29.1

27.3

19.1

20.4

31.1

Honda

23.4

21.3

32.1

N/A

N/A

N/A

30.4

Hyundai/Kia

22.3

20.6

31.3

24.0

N/A

27.0

28.7

Land Rover/Jaguar

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Mazda

N/A

24.0

29.6

27.2

N/A

23.7

30.5

Mitsubishi

N/A

N/A

25.4

26.0

N/A

22.6

60.0

Nissan

22.2

21.0

34.4

28.3

16.8

20.6

N/A

Porsche

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Subaru

17.9

N/A

27.1

24.4

N/A

26.1

N/A

Suzuki

N/A

N/A

N/A

20.9

17.0

N/A

26.0

Toyota

21.7

20.4

34.4

N/A

19.0

25.7

29.0

Volkswagen

20.9

19.9

29.1

23.7

N/A

24.4

25.4

Volvo

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Industry

22.0

20.5

31.8

25.2

18.2

22.7

29.7

TrueMPGTM is a data-rich method to compare monthly fuel economy averages by brand, manufacturer, origin and vehicle segments using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ratings and actual monthly automotive sales-weighted information. TrueCar.com seeks to provide average fuel economy transparency by creating an alternative view to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) ratings. TrueMPGTM helps keep in perspective what each manufacturer’s average miles per gallon per car sold – computed monthly and annually – by using the EPA’s window sticker ratings.

TrueMPGTM computes monthly average fuel economy by brand, manufacturer, origin and vehicle segments by using actual sales data for the current month. Calculations start at the trim level, taking into account EPA fuel economy data, including engine size and drivetrain that affect a vehicle’s MPG ratings. The sales share from each trim level is then calculated to create an average for each model. Brand level data is calculated by the sales share of each model and the manufacturer data is then based on the share of each brand, providing an accurate and completely data-driven picture of actual measured MPGs in the marketplace. TrueCar utilizes the EPA’s average fuel economy rating using 45 percent highway and 55 percent city driving behavior.

TrueCar, Inc., headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., with offices in Santa Barbara, Calif., San Francisco, Calif., and Austin, Texas, is an automotive pricing information and analysis company that creates a better buying experience for dealers and consumers. As an online publisher of unbiased new and used car transaction data, TrueCar.com provides price reports that empower dealers and consumers to agree on the parameters of a fair deal by supplying a transparent, simple understanding of what others recently paid for identically-equipped new cars in their geographic area. TrueCar also owns ALG, the benchmark for vehicle value information to the automotive industry, which has been forecasting residual values for nearly 50 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets.

TrueCar is a data-driven company that sources, compiles, and analyzes car-buying information unlike anybody in the industry. This is why, since its founding in 2005, TrueCar dealer partners have sold over 700,000 vehicles across the country. Its national network of nearly 6,000 Certified Dealers is committed to provide no-hassle pricing for some of the country’s largest membership and service organizations, including American Express, AAA, USAA and Consumer Reports that collectively represent more than one million monthly in-market customers.

You can follow TrueCar on Twitter (@TrueCar) and become a fan of TrueCar on Facebook and Google+.